Outerspace Mining

Clicks: 11
ID: 328690
2026
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Abstract
Abstract This chapter explores the ‘last frontier’ of resource extractivism: outerspace. Though mostly speculatory at his point, the exploitation of minerals on the Moon and other celestial bodies is receiving increasing attention, including by companies such as SpaceX. In contrast to the spirit of the Outer Space Treaty and Moon Treaty, recent legislation, including by the US, Japan, UAE, and Luxembourg, now place private enterprises and proprietary rights at the forefront of outer space resource extraction. The chapter points out that outer space mining will have some social and environmental impacts on Earth, not all positive; that it may detract from improving and reducing terrestrial extractivism as it provides a horizon of ‘radical’ improvement by ‘de-terrestrializing’ extractive activities and justifying yet more extraction to reach and open up that frontier; and that it opens the prospect of creating inter-planetary ‘extractivist’ entities, perhaps machine-driven, that will reproduce destructive forms of colonization far beyond Earth and into the distant future.
Reference Key
openalex_W7213468374 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Philippe Le Billon
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Journal Oxford University Press eBooks
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/oso/9780197873434.003.0009
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197873434.003.0009
Keywords Keywords not found

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